Four Panthers to compete in 4A state tournament

SALINA — The Concordia High School wrestling team will have four wrestlers competing in the Class 4A state tournament on Friday and Saturday at the Tony's Pizza Event Center.
Junior Hunter Schroeder, 182 pounds, will be making his third consecutive appearance in the state tournament for the Panthers.
Juniors Sajen Kemling, 106 pounds, and Jordan Anguish, 113 pounds, are headed to state for the second straight year.
Senior Layton Kindel, 160 pounds, earned his first trip to state.
Schroeder (29-5), who placed fourth at state last year in the 160-pound class, qualified this season by placing fourth in the regional tournament hosted by Concordia. He will meet up with Cole Daughhetee, Rose Hill, who is 13-1 in the opening round on Friday.
Daughhetee placed first in the regional tournament at Wellington.
“It definitely did make it a little tougher for him. He will start off with a regional champ,” Concordia coach Josh Brown said of Schroeder going into state as a fourth-place finisher at regionals, “But I am not afraid to put Hunter up against anybody in the state. He knows how to wrestle and he can go out and take care of business.”
The 182-pound bracket includes Brayden Dillow of Chanute who is 40-1 and Storm Slupianek, Marysville.
Slupianek missed most of the season because of injury. He returned in time for the regional tournament, and pinned Schroeder in the third-place match. He finished second in the 170-pound class last year.
“He (Schroeder) is going to control his own destiny. He knows exactly what needs to be done and the order it needs to be done. We just have to take one match at a time and we can still reach our season goal of being in the state finals,” Brown said.
Anguish, who picked up one win at state last year, goes in as a regional champion. He is 31-9 and will face Shawn Barrager, Fort Scott, who is 28-11.
“He definitely comes in with some confidence,” Brown said of Anguish, “He is a kid who kind of gets a little better every week. He is going to match up with a fourth-place finisher from another regional, but with Jordan it really doesn't matter who it is, he is going to go out there and wrestle.”
The 113-pound bracket includes Devon Weber, Pratt, who was the 106-pound champion last year, and is 34-1, and Kolton Misener, Chanute, who placed third last year. He is 37-4.
Kemling (28-10) also picked up one win in the state tournament.
“It definitely helps that he has been there before. I think he and Jordan both came in last year a little shell shocked,” Brown said, “Experience is definitely important for both of those guys.”
Kemling, who qualified by placing third in the regional tournament, will wrestle Anthony Lin, Augusta, in the first round.
The winner of that match could face Trent Clements, Chanute, who is 39-1 and placed second at state last year.
Kindel (32-13) earned his first trip to state by placing second at regionals. He takes on Stephan Roberts, Santa Fe Trail, who is 26-19, in the opening round.
“He (Kindel) just needs to go out and wrestle and not worry about who is across the line from him. He has the tools and the ability to go out there and get it done,” Brown said, “He just needs to go out there and kind of let it fly. Don't hold anything back.”
Marysville won the 4A team title last year with 112 points.
The Bulldogs qualified eight wrestlers this season.
Chanute advanced the most wrestlers to state this year with 12. Paola has nine.
The tournament begins at 10 a.m. Friday.
Consolation wrestle backs will start at 9 a.m. Saturday.